Favoritism to an interested party?

[j_dude77]

Situation. Interested party managed to get access to the contracting office. They found the specialist named on the solicitation and said they were new to federal contracting and began asking her many questions about what to do, how to do it, could I get this or that. After about five minutes of this, they began talking in circles.

I told the interested party, that there are many books and references out there that could answer their questions, and suggested that they look at some.

When I said this, the other specialist looked at me like I just ripped a kitten's head off in front of her. Later the specialist told me that I should not have said that.

Question: Is telling an interested party to do their own research wrong, or should i have endured the pow-pow outside my cube for another 10 minutes?

[formerfed]

So the "interested party" is a potential offeror on a procurement on the street? They also were trying to get more information about the requirement?

If so there's nothing wrong with that. The more information the government can provide to offerors, the better proposals they will receive. You just need to be careful that you provide other than general informtion to all offerors so that you don't give one source a competitive advantage. See FAR 15.201(f)

General information about agency mission needs and future requirements may be disclosed at any time. After release of the solicitation, the contracting officer must be the focal point of any exchange with potential offerors. When specific information about a proposed acquisition that would be necessary for the preparation of proposals is disclosed to one or more potential offerors, that information must be made available to the public as soon as practicable, but no later than the next general release of information, in order to avoid creating an unfair competitive advantage. Information provided to a potential offeror in response to its request must not be disclosed if doing so would reveal the potential offeror?s confidential business strategy, and is protected under 3.104 or Subpart 24.2. When conducting a presolicitation or preproposal conference, materials distributed at the conference should be made available to all potential offerors, upon request.

[charles]

No, telling a person or persons who are interested in obtaining government contracts to do their own research is not wrong. However, tactfulness in a work environment is important. I am not saying you were not tactful, I don?t know, but it?s something you should consider unless you?re Vern Edwards.

[Guest Vern Edwards]

Question: Is telling an interested party to do their own research wrong, or should i have endured the pow-pow outside my cube for another 10 minutes?

You're a contract specialist, not a consultant. Assuming that you were civil, you did the right thing.

[Guest carl r culham]

i - I to agree that there is a point in which you do move a potential offeror on to other resources to gain insight and assistance on how to do business with the Government. With regard to providing references and resources I thought I might suggest some in case you have not heard of them -

APTAC - Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers - Generalized, mission is to assist small businesses in doing business with the Government. Depending on the sophistication and resources of a particular PTAC this might include state and local governments too. Ref: http://www.aptac-us.org/new/

SBDC -Small Business Development Centers - Generalized to assist small businesses in all facets of developing and growing. Depending on the sophistication and resources of a particular SBDC they might be able to help on specifically understanding how to bid/propose on a particular government contract. For sure they could help a business on some of the issues regarding preparation of a bid/proposal. Ref: http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/sbdc/index.html and http://www.sbdcnet.org/

[j_dude77]

i - I to agree that there is a point in which you do move a potential offeror on to other resources to gain insight and assistance on how to do business with the Government. With regard to providing references and resources I thought I might suggest some in case you have not heard of them -

APTAC - Association of Procurement Technical Assistance Centers - Generalized, mission is to assist small businesses in doing business with the Government. Depending on the sophistication and resources of a particular PTAC this might include state and local governments too. Ref: http://www.aptac-us.org/new/

SBDC -Small Business Development Centers - Generalized to assist small businesses in all facets of developing and growing. Depending on the sophistication and resources of a particular SBDC they might be able to help on specifically understanding how to bid/propose on a particular government contract. For sure they could help a business on some of the issues regarding preparation of a bid/proposal. Ref: http://www.sba.gov/aboutsba/sbaprograms/sbdc/index.html and http://www.sbdcnet.org/

Thanks for the info. I will definately remember that, so that I can add that to resources new contractors can use.